Is fat really bad for you, and is so, which type of fats are bad and are there any good fats? Should you totally eliminate sugar from your diet, or is some sugar ok? If so, how much sugar should you consume without affecting your waistline or your overall health? Is salt always a no-no, or is there any amount of salt that’s safe to have in your diet?
Nutrition is pretty confusing, isn’t it? According to some people, you should total eliminate certain things from your diet, while others say that it’s perfectly fine to consume certain things in small quantities. But who’s right? Why has nutrition become so confusing? Let’s find out, shall we?
Nutrition is Ever-Evolving
Nutrition is a science, and just like any other form of science, it’s constantly evolving. What was once largely considered ‘bad’ for you may now be the best thing for your health; take nuts, for example. It used to be that they were considered way too fatty and eating them – in any amount – was thought to be bad for your health. But thanks to scientific studies, it’s now been determined that nuts are actually good for you; in fact, they’re said to be one of the healthiest foods you can eat. According to research studies, it’s been determined that people who eat nuts live a lot longer, are a lot healthier, and were no fatter than people who didn’t eat nuts at all. Eggs are another example; they were once said to be jam-packed with cholesterol and bad for the health of your heart; but that’s no longer the case. Turns out that the cholesterol eggs contain are actually the ‘good’ cholesterol and can help to counteract ‘bad’ cholesterol levels. The same is true for coffee; new research has found that coffee does not lead to an increased risk of cancer or heart disease, but rather that it may actually be good for cardiovascular health, potentially decrease mortality, prevent liver cancer, and stave off type 2 diabetes.
Because nutrition science is constantly evolving, new findings are partly to blame for the confusion. To avoid confusion, stay current with the latest research. Don’t continue to go by old rules because chances are that the rules of yore will eventually change.
Observational Studies
A lot of the nutritional studies that are out there are observational. These studies involve participants filling out questionnaires that relate to their eating habits and lifestyles. Observational studies cannot take all variable into account, which means that they can’t properly answer the questions that they are asking. So, while the information gathered from these types of studies can offer value, it can’t be proven, which further adds to the confusion.
Too Much Information
Another reason why nutrition is so confusing has to do with all of the information that’s out there; or shall we say ‘misinformation’. The internet has made it a whole lot easier to acquire nutrition information, which can certainly be advantageous; however, that’s not always the case. Depending on what sites you’re looking at, you could be consuming a lot of incorrect information. Many sites just publish content for the sake of, well, publishing content. They don’t take the latest findings into account, and therefore, a lot of the information they share is antiquated. Why does this lead to confusion? – Because if the information you’re reading on one site is unreliable and then you click on another site that does offer reliable, updated information, confusion is bound to happen.
How can you avoid misinformation? Make sure the information you’re acquiring is from reputable sites, like Livin3. This website offers regularly updated information from highly reputable sources, so you can be sure that the nutritional facts are valid.